A new hub for medical technology is being created in NRW with the Innovation Center for Digital Health. The initiative by BRYCK, 10xD and the University Medical Center Essen aims to build a bridge between innovative start-ups and established players in the healthcare sector. The goal is to bring digital innovations into medical practice faster and more sustainably in order to make healthcare fit for the future. The objective is to make it easier for start-ups to access capital, customers and talent.
The focus is on integrating digital technologies into existing structures and scaling them up. The stakeholders contribute expertise from different areas: The Essen-based startup hub BRYCK, which emerged from the Ruhrkohle-AG-Stiftung (RAG), is sharing its experience in the area of startup support, while the think tank 10xD is implementing digital optimization. The University Medical Center wants to transform itself into a smart hospital. The RAG Foundation, which will act as an intermediary between innovation, business and politics, is providing support.
The Cologne-based start-up Vitrofluidix, which produces realistic organ models for drug tests, and the Duisburg-based company Ichó are already taking part. The latter has developed an interactive ball designed to activate the memories of dementia patients. In the coming months, the network will be expanded to include further partners from various sectors of the healthcare industry.